Japan quake toll hits 28 as survivors struggle in heat
The death toll from the Kumamoto earthquake has reached 28 as survivors face extreme heat and power outages in temporary shelters. Emergency responders are working to recover victims from the ruins of the Aeon Mall, which suffered a secondary explosion following the initial tremor.
Why it matters
The combination of seismic destruction and extreme weather conditions creates a compounding crisis for local residents and emergency services.
Despite extensive reinforcement works on the Aeon Mall Kumamoto, which suffered severe damage a decade ago, a blast triggered by a fresh quake left it in ruins on Tuesday. Photo / Yuichi Yamazaki, AFP
Japanese emergency workers are battling to rescue any remaining survivors from a devastated shopping mall, as the death toll from a major earthquake hit 28 and thousands sweltered in punishing heat.
The Government issued the new tally as Kumamoto officials said they have now extracted four bodies from the mass of rubble, steel and wires of the Aeon shopping mall after a suspected gas blast following Tuesday’s quake.
At the mall, “we have pulled out 10 people. Of them, four were confirmed dead. Another is without vital signs. Another five have suffered severe and minor injuries”, an official from the disaster management office in the southwestern region told AFP.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in